Teenager who shot father to death arraigned on murder charges again

Trinity Copeland, who shot her father to death over a debit card dispute last July, appears in Troy City Court with her attorney, Matthew Smalls, Tuesday, to be arraigned on murder charges for a second time. (Charles Sweeney/The Record)

TROY -- The teen who admitted to shooting her father to death after a dispute over a debit card was arraigned on murder charges in City Court for a second time Tuesday, after a judge dismissed charges on a legal technicality and freed her from jail last week.

Trinity Copeland, appearing in shackles and handcuffs, surrendered to police early Tuesday and again will face murder charges for the July 2012 shooting death of her father. The technicality revolved around improper jury instructions to the Grand Jury by the prosecution.

Copeland's attorney, Matthew Smalls, objected to the murder charges, citing a prior agreement with the District Attorney's Office.

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"It was our understanding that Trinity Copeland is being charged with a Class C violent felony and now we are learning that this is a murder charge," Smalls said. "This is what we call the 'okie-doke.'"

"My role here is pretty limited to this matter," Maier said, urging Smalls to argue the matter before Judge Andrew Ceresia at the county level.

When reached for comment, Rensselaer County District Attorney Richard McNally said he was reluctant to discuss details of the case but did comment on Copeland's surrender Tuesday morning.

"We agreed to keep an open mind and not move forward until we had ample time to discuss a possible resolution which would, of course, include a homicide charge," McNally said. "We agreed to hold off on presenting the case to a new Grand Jury in exchange for her surrender this week, otherwise we would apply for, and we believe receive, permission to present to a new Grand Jury."

Copeland is charged with shooting her father in the head in a dispute over her use of his debit card.

In her statements to police, Copeland said she shot her father at his urging, claiming he threatened to kill her if she didn't.

Copeland had spent the last ten months behind bars before her release last week.